LIFE AFTER DEATH CONTAINING many religious instructions and godly exhortations for all those that meane to liue holy and dye blessedly With the manner of disposing ones selfe to God before and at the time of his departure out of this world With many Prayers for the same purpose By FRANCIS RODES LONDON Printed for THOMAS DEVVE in St Dunstanes Churchyard in Fleetstreet 1622. To the Reader IT is a common custome to intreat fauour from courteous Readers If the matter bee good or the men courteous the suite of fauour will bee easily granted if otherwise it is but a needlesse shame to beg a commendation where none is deserued And therefore I leaue to euery man the libertie of his iudgement and doe expose this Tract to generall censure F.R. A Table of the chiefe points contained in this Treatise CHAP. 1. THE seuerall sorts of Death CHAP. 2 To learne to die well ought to bee the chiefe study of our life CHAP. 3 Why men do so seldome enter into a serious remembrance of their end CHAP. 4 The necessity of our continuall meditating vpon Death CHAP. 5. Necessary obseruations in our meditating of Death CHAP. 6. Against the feare of Death CHAP. 7 How to carry our selues concerning Death CHAP. 8 This life is but a prison a pilgrimage c. CHAP. 9 The vulgar remedy against Death CHAP. 10 Grieuances and excuses of fearfull men to couer their complaints of Death CHAP. 11 How Death is to bee desired CHAP. 12 The miserable state and condition of this present life CHAP. 13 Against the loue of the world CHAP. 14 Against procrastination CHAP. 15 Against mistrust in Gods mercy CHAP. 16 Gods promises to sinners that repent are manifold absolute vniuersall CHAP. 17 How one should demeane himselfe when sicknes beginneth CHAP. 18 How the sicke should dispose his worldly goods CHAP. 19 How hee is to apply himselfe to Prayer and Meditation CHAP. 20 Whom the duty of visiting the sicke specially concernes CHAP. 21 A Prayer at the first visiting of the Sicke CHAP. 22 A confession to be vsed of the sicke by himselfe CHAP. 23 A Prayer of the sick party against the feare of death CHAP. 24 A Prayer for the sick CHAP. 25 A forme of leauing the sicke to Gods protection CHAP. 26 The manner of commending the sicke into the hands of God at the houre of Death CHAP. 27 A Prayer for the sick at his departing out of this life CHAP. 28 The blessing of the sicke when hee is giuing vp the ghost CHAP. 29 A Prayer to bee vsed by the assembly after the sicke party departed CHAP. 30 Consolation against immoderate griefe for the losse of friends CHAP. 31 The custom of Funerals A TREATISE OF LIFE AND DEATH CHAP. 1. THere are three sorts of Death The first is a dying in sinne that is 1. Dying in Sinne. when we doe giue our selues ouer to the delights and pleasures of this life and doe neuer think of death till it comes and when it is come wee doe then recoyle and draw back as beeing vnwilling to dye thereby making our departure vnhappy because none dyes well that dies vnwillingly neither can any hope for Heauen that approches thereunto only by compulsion 2. Dying to sinne The second is a dying to Sin that is when our sins die before our selues namely when wee doe retire our selues from sinne and from the desires and allurements of the world and doe die to all carnall delights as that Apostle did which said The world is crucified to mee and I vnto the world thus to die to sinne is to be deliuered from sinne and to liue with Christ The third is 3. A naturall dying which is the dissolution of the Soule from the body the loosing of the Soule frō the body which is implyed by Saint Paul saying I desire to bee dissolued namely by the dis-iunction of the body from the Soule This dissolution is a deliuerie out of the prison of this life with the stinke and filth wherof we are infected defiled but by death the bands are loosed and the prison set open where out wee flye freely vnto Heauen where we are receiued pure and cleane washen by the bloud of the immaculate Lambe and beeing cloathed vvith his white garment of innocency wee are filled with delights and with the fruition of the light inaccessible CHAP. 2. To learne to die well ought to be the chiefe study and labour of our life LIfe is a debt to Death and Death a debt to Nature or rather natures seruant for if death vvere not what complaints and murmurings would there be against Nature if here against our willes wee should still liue and not haue our liues freed by death If death were quite taken from vs no doubt wee should more desire it then now we feare it and thirst more after it then after life it selfe Of all lessons and of all learnings none is more weighty none more diuine then to learne to die well which is to die willingly and to die in the faith feare and fauour of God In learning to dye well consisteth our eternall welfare To learne to die well is the chiefest thing and dutie of life and a lesson worthy our best and chiefest labours for therein consisteth our eternall welfare Therfore there is nothing that ought so often and so much to bee thought vpon as Death insomuch as if it were possible the the whole moments of our life should bee nothing else but a learning or taking out of some new lesson of death What is it with the Historian to know what others haue done and to neglect the true knowledge of our selues with the Lawyer to learne the common Lawes of the Realme and to forget the common Law of Nature which is that all must die What is it for the greatest Politicians by their reaching wits to compasse great and high matters and in the end to die like simple men True wisedome is to be wise vnto a mans own soule True wisedome is to bee wise vnto a mans owne soule and they onely are wise and they only liue which finde time and leasure wherein to learne to die well for no part of our life is worthy the name of a life but what is spent in the study of wisedome and the greatest part of true wisdome is to learne to die well The perfection of our knowledge is to know God and our selues our selues we best know when we doe well consider our mortall being for man is neuer so diuine as when he considereth well of his mortall nature and conceiues hee was borne to die As men wee die naturally as Christians we die religiously By mortifying the old man we endeuour to die to the world By a vertuous disposing of our selues for the day of our departure wee learne to die in the world By our dying to the world Christ is said to come and liue in vs By our dying in the world wee are said to goe and
by day by night at home and abroad and neuer missing let all estates at all times and in all places be alwayes ready armed against the assaults of Death CHAP. 6. Against the feare of Death DEath is the ineuitable Law of nature therefore to feare that which cannot bee auoyded is meere folly But our feare of death proceedes from doubt and doubt from vnbeliefe and our vnbeliefe chiefly from ignorance because wee know not the good that is elsewhere and doe not beleeue that our part is in it so that true knowledge and true faith driues away all feare of death Assurance of heauenly things makes vs willing to part with earthly Hee cannot contemne this life that knowes not the other and he is not worthy to liue in the other that is vnwilling to die in this to despise this life is to thinke of heauen and not to feare Death is to thinke of that glorious life that followes it If we can endure pain for health much more ought wee at our last to abide a few pangs that cannot last for an euerlasting glory How fondly doe wee feare a vanquisht enemie ouer whom Christ hath already triumphed by whose death death is swallowed vp in victory and we thereby deliuered from the tyranny thereof It is enough to vs that Christ died for vs who had not died neither but that wee might die the more willingly and with greater safety Death is necessarily annexed to nature and life is giuen vs with a condition to die and our Creator in his mercy continues the vse of our life to this end onely that we may learne rightly to die There is but one common rode to all flesh and there are no by-paths of any fayrer or neerer way no not for Princes Haue we bin at so many graues and so oft seene our selues die in our friends and doe wee shrinke when our course commeth Imagine thou wert exempt from the common Law of mankinde yet assure thy selfe death is not now so fearefull as thy life would then be wearisome Thinke not so much what Death is as from whom he comes and for what Wee receiue euen homely Messengers from great persons not without respect to their Masters and what matters it who he be so he bring vs good newes and what better newes can there be then this That God sends for thee to take possession of a Kingdome Let them then feare Death that knowes not Death to bee the messenger of Gods iustice and mercy To die is a thing naturall necessary and reasonable Naturall Naturall for it is the generall Law of the whole world that all must die and our very essence is equally parted into life and death for the first day of our birth sets vs as well in the way to death as to life Death is the condition of our creation and life is giuen vs with an exception of death to die therfore is as naturall as to be borne and as foolish is hee that feareth to die as to be old To be vnwilling to die is to be vnwilling to be a man for all men are mortall Death being then a thing so naturall why should it be feared The feare of griefe and paine is naturall but not of death Children and mad men feare not death why should not reason then be as able to furnish vs with security as they are fortified by their simplicity idiotisme Beasts feare not death therefore it is not nature that teacheth vs to feare death but rather to attend and receiue it as sent by her whose seruant it is Fooles feare death and wise men attend it It is folly to grieue at that which cannot be amended therfore when Dauid vnderstood of the death of his child he ceased to sorrow any longer for him saying While he liued there was hope but being dead there was no remedy and so his care ended Death is a debt of nature which must be payd whensoeuer it is demanded It is no taking day with God when his will is to call for it Therefore it is in vaine to flie from that which wee cannot shunne and those things which of necessity must be performed of vs ought to be done cheerefully not by compulsion as Chrysostome saith Let vs make that voluntarie which is necessarie and yeeld it to God as a gift which we stand bound to pay as a due debt Death is a happines to the faithfull because it is a deliuerance both of soule and body from all misery and sinne By death the world was redeemed to such therefore as doe beleeue in Christ their Redeemer death is to them an aduantage and a thing rather to be desired then feared for they onely are affrighted and daunted with the feare of death that are destitute of faith and hope If thou beleeuest in God why art thou not forward to goe to Christ who died for thee There cannot be a more happy thing then deuoutly to render thy life into his hands who to spare thee spared not himselfe but gaue his life for thee Christ saith Saint Paul is gaine to me both in life and death holding it for a wonderfull gaine to be no more subiect to sinne It is a more grieuous thing to liue in sinne then to die for as long as a wicked man liues his iniquity increaseth if he die his sinne ceaseth the euill therefore of death is only in sinne Necessarie Death brings an equall and an ineuitable necessitie ouer all therfore did nature make that common to all which commonly was feared of all to the end that such an equality might asswage the rigour and seuerity of death and that none might iustly complaine of death from which none was euer exempted 1 Two causes that lets men from dying willingly Lacke of faith But one chiefe cause that lets vs from dying willingly is lacke of faith for had we faith we would night and day desire this messenger of the Lords Iustice and Mercy to deliuer vs out of this miserable life that wee might enter into the fruition of eternall felicity for hauing confidence in GOD wee shall finde death to be as a guide to bring vs to our euerlasting home 2 Loue of the world Another cause of the feare of death is the loue of the world for they feare death most that most loues the world and giues themselues most to the pleasures and delights of this life which they feare to be depriued of by death To feare death is for a man to be enemie to himselfe and to his owne life for he can neuer liue at ease and contentedly that feareth to die therefore to contemne death is a thing one should learne betimes for without this meditation none cā haue any repose in minde seeing it is most certaine that die we must not knowing when and it may be at the very instant of our thought how then can any enioy a peaceable soule who feares death Improuidence ads terror vnto death which threatens
him euery minute of this life There is not a more dangerous enemie against a mans selfe then himselfe by his follies his fantasies his vanities his surfetting and excesse his lust his anger his feares and the rest of his affections whereof within his breast he fosters a Forrest full That man is onely a free man which feares not death and contrarily life is but a slauerie if it were not made free by death for death is the onely stay of our libertie and the common and readie remedy against all euils and the onely meane to all good It is then a misery and miserable are all that doe it to trouble their liues with the feare of death and their death with the desire of life For a man to torment himselfe with the feare of death is great weakenesse and cowardlinesse for there is no passion in the minde of man so weake but can master the feare of Death and therefore death is no such enemie when a man hath so many followers about him that can conquer him reuenge triumphs ouer death loue esteemes it not honour aspireth to it deliuery frō ignominie chuseth it griefe flyeth to it feare preoccupyeth it what an extreme madnes is it then for a man to torment himselfe for nothing and that willingly Scienter frustrà niti extremae dementiae est Death beeing then so necessarie and ineuitable it is to no purpose to feare it for such things as are certain as Death we must attend and in things past remedy we must be resolute therefore making of necessity a vertue we must welcome it and receiue it kindely for where there is not vertue and willingnesse to death life is but a seruitude and to bee truely free from the feare of death is to thinke continually on death so shall wee thereby bee the more couragious against the necessitie of our departure Reasonable and iust To dye is a thing reasonable and iust for it is but reason that we giue place to others since others haue giuen place to vs and since we haue enioyed the places offices and heritages of them that were before vs it is but equall that those that doe come after vs should likewise possesse thē accordingly It is a thing generall and common to al to die Why should then any feare to goe whither all the world goeth where so many millions haue gone before and so many millions are to follow after They whom wee suppose to be dead do not perish but precede they are only sent before whom we must presently follow after in which meane time notwithstanding there is no long time betweene their meeting and ours for euery moment of this life is the death of the other the time past is lost and gone death is already possessed thereof onely the time present we haue share with death so that euery day we die by little and little why then should any feare that once which is acted euery day The death which wee so much feare and flye takes not from vs life but only giues it a truce and intermission for a little time and as for our bodies they haue no more damage by death then hath the seed for hauing a little earth harrowed ouer it Let euery one therefore indeuour to make euery day as it were his last day for to spurne against death is to striue against nature against our faith against all dutie Yet euery one hurries on his life and trauels in the desire of future things and wearinesse of present times but hee which bestowes his whole time to learne how to die well neither desires nor feares what may happen the day after for vvhat can hee iustly feare that hopes to die according to that answere of the Lacedemonians vnto Antipater who threatned them cruelly if they yeelded not to his demand It is not said they in thy power O Antipater to threaten vs with any thing that is worse then death death is welcome to vs. CHAP. 7. How to carry our selues concerning Death TO feare and flye death as an euill is a thing not approoued by men of vnderstanding though by the greater partie it be practised to desire death argues we are out of charitie with the world to contemne life is vnthankfulnesse to nature to attend death is good but to flie and feare death is against nature reason iustice and all dutie If wee consider death as in it selfe then naturally wee feare it but if we consider it as a meane to bring vs to Christ then ought wee to imbrace it The feare of death in contemplation of the cause of it and the issue of it is religious but the feare of it for it selfe is a testimonie of great weakenesse Men feare death as children feare to goe in the darke and as that naturall feare in children is increased with tales so is the other There is not a thing that men feare more then death and there is nothing that hath lesse occasion or matter of feare then death or that contrarily yeeldeth greater reasons to perswade vs with resolution to accept of it for if it bee an euill it is of all euils the least euill and the euill that doth least harme nay it is so farre from beeing an euill that it is the onely remedie against all euils for in this life euils and dangers attend vs continually whereas by death our life is exempted from all euils and filled vvith eternall ioyes Moreouer if it bee an enemy it is of all enemies the least or rather of all friends the best for he brings vs out of all danger of enemies into the protection and safegard of our best and most assured friend for euer Iesus Christ our onely Sauiour and Redeemer Wee must then thinke that it is a meere opinion and a vulgar errour that hath wonne the world to conceit so hardly of death It is not death it selfe that men are afraid of but the opinion and apprehension of death that onely terrifies now this terrible apprehension is grounded vpon a precedent opinion of our infirmitie and contrarie to truth for veritie incourageth opinion danteth vs. Opinion bands it selfe against reason and seekes to deface her with the maske of death it may bee the spectacle of death displeaseth because they that die looke gastly but this is not death but the maske of death that which is hid vnder it is beautifull for death hath nothing in it that is fearefull Death then in it selfe is not euill therefore not to be feared CHAP. 8. This life is but a prison a pilgrimage a warfare and as a voyage vpon a tempestuous Sea DEath is the soueraign good of Nature and the onely pillar of our libertie whereas this life is but a prison a pilgrimage a warfare as a voyage vpon a tempestuous Sea In this life wee are alwayes in prison and our Soule inclosed in the body as in a prison which desires releasement as the thirsty doe coole fresh waters Our life is but a
and how many such so left haue risen to higher place and greater ability then other men Why are they offended vvith death since it quits them of all griefe To returne from whence thou camest what burden vvhat griefe is it But it takes vs from that wee know and haue been accustomed vnto and brings vs vnto an estate vnknowne it takes vs frō the light to bring vs to darknes and to conclude it is our end our ruine our dissolution These are their weightiest obiections where unto we may answere in a word That death beeing the ineuitable Law of Nature it is a folly to feare that which a man can not auoid and to feare death is a meere folly because things certaine are expected doubtfull things onely feared These people make not their count well for in stead of taking any thing from vs it giues vs all in stead of bringing vs into darknes it taketh it from vs and puts vs into the light CHAP. 10. How we may desire Death TO desire death as the retrait and onely hauen from the torments of this life as the soueraigne good of nature and as the onely stay pillar of our liberty is besitting a good and a setled soule It is imbecillity to yeeld vnto euill but it is folly to nourish it It is a good time to die when to liue is rather a burthen then a blessing There is more ill in life then good and to increase our torment is against nature Wilfully to hinder our owne health is not onely against the course of nature but also a tempting of the God of nature To wish to die sooner or to liue longer then it shall seeme good vnto the Giuer of life is a great ingratitude A liuely apprehension and desire of the life to come makes a man to thirst after death as after a great gaine as after the seed of a better life as the bridge vnto Paradise as the way to all good and as an earnest penny of the Resurrection A firme beliefe and hope of these things is incompatible with the feare and horrour of death it perswades rather to be weary of this life and to desire death Vitam habere in patientia mortē in desiderio Therefore haue Philosophers and others bin iustly reproched that play the publike dissemblers and doe not in verity beleeue that which they doe so much talke of and so highly commend touching that happy immortalitie and those vnspeakeable pleasures in the second life since they doubt and feare death so much the necessary passage vnto immortality CHAP. 12. The miserable state and condition of this present life BEhold the miserable estate of this brickle body subiect to all iniuries of fortune that is of such miseries and mischiefes as GOD by his prouidence sendes and sowes thorow the world for sinne Then consider whereabout this life is occupied how vainely how dangerously how painefully how grieuously and in what feare care griefe sadnes sorrow and vexation it liues in together with the infinite discontents and discomforts of the minde Now the only rest and reliefe from all this is in and by death whereby we shall change these pains into pleasures these dangers into safety this wicked and euill company with that most happy society of the blessed and glorious Trinitie If wee run thorow the ages and occupations of this life it wil be thought worthier the name of death then life Vita mihi haec mors est mors haec mihi vita perennis In vita exilium patria est in morte propinqua Thus is the perfect age of man consumed in vanity vexation mourning and mischiefe till heauie and burthensome age ouertake him wherein he can haue pleasure of nothing wherein the poore conscience is bitten and pined with remembrance and remorse of by-past sinnes the carkasse it selfe fraught with surfets insomuch as there is nothing now but oasting in the bowels aking in the bones gowt grauel stone and infinite other maladies tormenting him till hee haue brought his miserable life to end Salomon sought out carefully whatsoeuer seemed profitable or pleasant or might any wayes bring comfort or contentment to the minde of man in this life so that none could be able to match him since in respect of his meanes and wisedome and yet hee found nothing but vanity and vexation of spirit What vanity vexation is in euery estate of life by this one thing is most euident that none is content with his owne estate but euery one esteemes his neighbours better because he knowes it not so well as his owne and conferres the bitternes of his with the pleasures of his neighbours so that the onely ignorance of the things of this world makes the estimation of them and when they are prooued by experience what they are they are found to be nothing lesse then what they were supposed to be so that how much the more mē lusted after them so much sooner doe they loath them and must confesse in the end all to be but vanity labour and griefe To the shortnes of life may be added the miseries of the same for all is not life we here liue The yeeres of mans life are few but the miseries therof are infinite therefore by the Grecians the first day of the life of man is called a beginning of conflicts And S. Augustine saith of mans first entrance into the world Nondum loquitur et tamen Prophetat an Infant not able to speake doth yet by teares prophecie of the sorrowes incident to the life of man so that the old saying may well be verified Humana vita non est vita sed calamitas The life of man is rather calamity then life All the dayes of this life must we eate our bread in labour and sorrow vntill wee returne to the earth out of which we were taken so that the dayes of man by reason of sinne are no other but the dayes of sorrow for euery day hath suam malitiam and euery night suum terrorem Thus is the estate and condition of life found troublesome euen of him to whom Abraham said Tu in vita thou in thy life receiuedst thy ioy for the voluptuous in seeking his pleasure the ambitious his glory the couetous his gaine indure in this world a very seruitude and thraldome of life wherefore for the transitory delights of this sinfull world happie are they that doe but see them more happy that shunne them most happy that are quite taken from them whereby they are deliuered from this irkesome necessity of sinning and so shall grieue the holy Spirit no more They only are wise and they only liue which finde time and leasure wherein to learne to die well for without this knowledge there is no more pleasure in life then in the fruition of that thing which a man feareth alwayes to lose He hath spent his life wel that hath learned to die well and he hath lost his whole time that knowes not well how to end
it He shootes not well that lookes not on the marke and hee cannot liue well that hath not an eye to his death The happinesse of this life consists not in the length of time but in the well vsing of time for the vnprofitable part of mans life is death Our life is not to be measured according to the time but according to our actions it imports not how long we liue but how well Non quà m diu sed quà m benè Life is long enough if we can but tell how to vse it In the longest life of all the time which wee doe truly liue is the least of all considering how much of our life is spent in griefe how much in cares how much in sicknesse how much in feares how much in our young and vnprofitable yeeres and briefly how much in sleepe wherin in a manner we spend a moity of our liues We receiued not a little short life but haue made it so our selues euen as great wealth when it comes into the hands of an vnthrift is wasted in a moment and meane riches on the contrary increase by the good imployment of one that is thrifty euen so this our age is wonderfully extended by him that can dispose well of it The swiftnesse of time is incomprehensible and so it appeares principally to those that looke backward to it and considering the swift and violent course of time it is most strange that the greatest part thereof should bee imployed so much in superfluous things of pleasure or delight So swift is the flight of time as that the time we liue is but as it were a minute and lesse then a minute if it were possible and yet notwithstanding as little as it is Nature hath distributed diuided it into many degrees whereof part she hath allotted vnto Infancie part to Adolescencie part to middle age and part to old age the next neighbour age to death Infancie is scarcely perceiued youth is quickly ouer-blowne middle age stayes not old age is not long Of all ages of our life onely old age is not limited but all the exercises of precedent times and the delights and pleasures of youth do end and vanish in old age why then should any thirst after this life which in effect is no better then a labourers worke spent in toyle and trauell consuming it selfe in vanities ebbing away in words hauing a mansion place in dust and a life in slime and clay without resolution or constancy What pleasure then can there be in this life when the pleasures thereof are nothing but vanities and all the felicity thereof only splendida miseria a shining miserie nay which is worse affliction of spirit for where the loue of this world enters there is no longer rest or quiet of minde but warre of desires vexatiō of thoughts feares cares and vnquietnesse of soule which in deede is a most miserable and pittifull affliction of spirit All the commodities of this world are mixed with discommodities lest wee should loue them too much and all the delights thereof are counterpoized with discontentments the grieuous counterpoize wherof makes the miseries of this world most intolerable which made Iob to detest the very day of his birth saying Let the day wherein I was borne perish and made Salomon to cōmend the condition of the dead before the liuing and to hold him better then them both that neuer was borne by reason he neuer walked in the vanities of this life nor euer saw the wicked workes that are committed vnder the Sunne O miserable and most deceitfull world whose miseries are voyd of all consolation and whose happinesse is mingled with all kinde of misery It deceiues them that trust it afflicts them that serue it damnes them that follow it and soonest of all forgets them that labour most of all for it It is a very Iudas for whom it kisseth it betrayeth vnto Satan The delights of sinne goe downe pleasantly as wine doth at first but at last they bite like a serpent Oblectant sensum sed interficiunt spiritum they delight the sence but slay the soule If we be not moued to leaue this life in respect of the miseries whereof it is full yet ought wee to be willing to forgoe it in regard of the infinite happines which death brings vs vnto in the world to come Here we are but members of the Church militant where is nothing but cōbating there wee shall be parts of the Church triumphant where is nothing but reioycing Here wee sowe in teares but there we shall reape in ioy All the riches and pleasures of this life are nothing in comparison of eternall felicity for no tongue created either of Man or Angell can expresse the ioyes of heauē no imagination conceiue nor vnderstanding comprehend them for Christ himselfe saith Nemo scit nisi qui accipiet No man knowes them but he that enioyes them such is the infinite value glory and maiestie of the felicity prepared for vs in heauen which is the accomplishment of all our hope Thus recounting the vanity of this world the miserable state of this life and the inestimable blessednes of the life to come let vs with the Apostles and Prophets cry O miserable man that I am who shall deliuer mee from this body of death My soule thirsteth for thee O God when shall I goe and appeare before the presence of the liuing God I desire to be dissolued and to be with Christ Come quickly Lord Iesus come quickly The GOD of all power and mercie increase in our hearts a desire of this learning that wee may liue in his feare and die in his fauour whereby wee may liue for euer Amen CHAP. 13. Against the loue of the world which is the second cause that lets vs from dying willingly THe loue and respect man beares to the pleasures and vanities of this world is not onely of it selfe a strong impediment and let to our willingnesse to death and to the seruice of God but a generall cause also and as it were a cōmon ground to all other impediments whatsoeuer other excuses are pretended for when the Noble men of Iewry refused to confesse Christ openly Saint Iohn vttereth the true cause thereof to be for that they loued the glory of man more then the glory of GOD Iohn chap. 12. This may be confirmed by that most excellent Parable of the Seed The exposition of the Parable of the Seed which concernes three sorts of persons 1. High-way the first sort of which our Sauiour compareth to a High-way wherein all seede of life that is sowne either withereth presently or else is eaten vp by the birds of the Ayre that is by the Diuels in such carelesse men as contemne whatsoeuer is said vnto them 2 Rocky ground The second sort are compared to Rockie grounds in which for lacke of deepe roote the seed that falleth continueth not whereby are signified light vnconstant persons that now chop in and now
most vncertaine whether it shall euer bee or neuer or whether God will accept it or no. What Law iustice or equitie is this that after thou hast serued the World Flesh and Diuell all thy youth and best dayes in the end to come thrust thine old bones defiled and worne out with sinne into the dish of thy Creator his enemies to haue the best and hee the leauings The onely way therefore to escape this dangerous and vncertaine point is Esay 55. to conuert in time to seeke vnto GOD while hee may bee found to call vpon him while hee is neere at hand CHAP. 15. Against mistrust in Gods mercy THis is that great and maine impediment that stoppeth the conduits 〈…〉 God 's holy grace from flowing into the Soule of a sinfull man for there cannot bee a greater dishonour to GOD nor any thing more displeasing to him then to doubt of his mercy whose heart is more tender towards vs then the heart of any mother can bee to the onely childe and infant of her wombe for thus hee saith to Sion which for her sinnes beganne to doubt least hee had forsaken her Can the mother forget her owne infant or can shee not bee mercifull to the child of her owne wombe If shee could yet can I not forget or reiect thee behold I haue written thee in the flesh of mine owne hands As the Father pittieth his owne children so doth the Lord take mercy vpon vs hee knoweth whereof we be made hee remembreth that we are but dust God will not despise the worke of his owne hands I am hee I am he saith the LORD that for mine owne sake will doe away thine offences and will no more thinke of thy sinnes Esay 43. As surely as I liue I will not thy death but rather that thou shalt be conuerted and liue Ezech. 33. Nunquid voluntatis meae est mors impit Haue I any pleasure in the death of a sinner saith the Lord. GOD by his Prophet Ieremy complaineth grieuously Esay 1. that men will not accept of his mercy offered saying Turne from your wicked wayes why will yee dye O you house of Israel GOD so loued the world that hee gaue his onely begotten Sonne to the death to redeeme vs Special arguments of Gods exceeding loue that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue life euerlasting The sum of the Gospell hereunto all the Prophets beare witnesse that whosoeuer shall beleeue in him by his name hee shall haue remission of sinnes and withall eternall life God gaue his Sonne to redeeme vs euen then when wee were his enemies and if when wee were his enemies wee were reconciled vnto GOD by the death of his Sonne much more being reconciled shall we be saued by his life Christ came not into the world to condemne the world but to saue it hee came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance CHAP. 16. The promises of God to sinners that repent are manifold absolute and vniuersall VVHosoeuer shall depart from his euill wayes and turne vnto mee saith the Lord I will receiue him Behold here the the vniuersality of all people and persons without excluding any At what time soeuer a sinner doth repent him of his sinne from the bottome of his heart I will put away all his wickednesse out of my remembrance saith the Lord see the vniuersalitie of all times and seasons vvithout exception Leaue off to doe peruersly and then doe you come and finde fault with mee if you can For if your sinnes were as red as Scarlet they shall be made as white as Snow Consider here the vniuersalitie of all kind of sinnes bee they neuer so grieuous so horrible or hainous As nothing doth more exasperate they re of God then the depriuing of his Maiesty of that most excellent propertie wherein he chiefly delighteth and gloryeth which is his infinite and vnspeakeable mercy so nothing doth more assure vs of Gods mercy fauour towards vs then that he is our Creator and Father which two words the one of loue the other of power takes away all doubt of beeing denied any thing that wee shall aske in his name with Faith This blessed name of Father in God doth import vnto vs by his owne testimonie all sweetnesse all loue all comfort all fatherly prouidence care and protection all certaintie of fauour all assurance of grace all security of mercy pardon and remission of our sins whensoeuer vnfainedly we turn vnto him for neuer sinner repented that was not pardoned neuer any that returned vnfainedly that was not mercifully accepted Three things there are saith S. Bernard wherein my hope consisteth and whereby it is made inuincible 1 Charitas vocationis First in the exceeding loue and charitie of him that calleth vs to him by repentance 2 Veritas promissionis Secondly the infallible truth and certainty of his promise which he maketh to vs of pardon and mercy 3. Potestas redditionis Thirdly the endlesse power and abilitie hee hath to performe whatsoeuer he promiseth Therefore if thou beest ready to breathe out thy soule and Spirit feare not to repent for Gods mercy is not restrained by the shortnesse of time CHAP. 17. How one should demeane himselfe when sicknesse beginneth THe first and principall thing religiously to bee remembred in the beginning of sicknesse is that the soule doe call her selfe to a serious account of sinnes passed of the euill committed and the good omitted remembring that of the Prophet Psal 32.9 I will confesse against my selfe mine owne vnrighteousnesse In all extremities our chiefest care ought to be by Prayer to call vpon God for helpe and religiously to commend our selues and soules vnto God A ioyfull lifting vp of the heart to the Throne of grace makes vs willing to renounce the world and to resigne our selues ouer vnto his diuine pleasure to whose will wee ought with patience meekely to submit our selues both for our continuance in this life and for our deliuerance out of this life CHAP. 18. The disposing of blessings temporall HIs sinnes by the sicke partie confessed his soule religiously commended to GOD his desire to liue or die referred to the diuine prouidence an orderly disposing of those temporall blessings which God hath lent vs is very conuenient for euery Christian specially in time of health and nothing ominous as some haue timorously doubted This disposing of blessings temporal maketh vs not to dye the more quickly but the more quietly Wee shew our thankefulnesse to God and charitie to men when we become beneficiall vnto others remembring whose saying it was It is a blessed thing to giue Acts 20. Then is he with a free and willing minde to yeeld and render his soule into the hands of Almightie God his Creator who of his infinite mercy redeemed him by the death and Passion of his deare Sonne Iesus Christ our onely Sauiour and Redeemer in whose onely merits is his last repose at parting